Browns GM: Deshaun Watson 'actually ahead of schedule' in shoulder injury recovery process

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson sports the most closely watched shoulder in all of Cleveland, maybe even in the Midwest.

The Browns still made the playoffs last season, even though Watson was sidelined before Thanksgiving after shoulder surgery. This season, if Cleveland gets the play they expect out of Watson, who knows how far they can go.

Here’s the current situation. Browns general manager Andrew Berry says the quarterback’s rehab is far ahead of schedule. The start of next month’s training camp is a key date in testing Watson’s shoulder.

“First and foremost, Deshaun has really worked his tail off during the rehabilitation process over the last several months,” Berry said during an interview with The Insiders. “He’s really actually ahead of schedule. He’s really chomping at the bit to take the governor off so to speak, but really he’s had a really nice spring. (And) he’s thrown the ball well. Did a really nice job during our 7-on-7 and team periods during this veteran minicamp. So, we’re excited as he gets into training camp and gets the pads on.

“He’s making excellent progress. Honestly if you didn’t know he got hurt last year, you really wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. We’re very excited once camp starts.”

Cleveland GM Andrew Berry took a few minutes from the Ozzie Newsome GM Forum to talk to us. Among other things, he said Deshaun Watson is ahead of schedule in his recovery from his shoulder injury. The full interview is here. pic.twitter.com/hnYQhQT4gZ

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) June 18, 2024

Browns coach says Watson looks ‘very back to normal’

The Browns wrapped mandatory minicamp last week. Next on the schedule is a weeklong stay at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. The Browns’ first practice there is on July 25. And if Watson remains ahead of schedule, he’ll be full strength by then.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski shared similar comments about Watson as minicamp wrapped last week.

“I’ve gotten to see (Watson) throw throughout the course of this rehab,” Stefanski told reporters. “I don’t know when it was, but a while back he looked very normal to me.

Keep in mind, Watson underwent surgery on Nov. 21 to repair a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right (throwing) shoulder. The glenoid is the socket part of the shoulder joint. He suffered the fracture Nov. 12 while leading the Browns to a 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Earlier in the season, he missed three-plus games because of a rotator cuff strain on the same throwing shoulder.

As Watson had surgery, the Browns signed 38-year-old Joe Flacco, who’d been out of football in 2023 til Cleveland gave him a call.

Cleveland used several starting quarterbacks last year and still made the playoffs. They’ve scrambled the depth chart, again. Flacco moved on to to Indianapolis and is backing up Anthony Richardson. Meanwhile, the Browns signed former Saints QB Jameis Winston as the primary backup for Watson. They also signed Tyler Huntley, who had been Lamar Jackson’s former backup in Baltimore. Dorian Thompson Robinson, a rookie last season, is still on the roster.